Interim Report – May 2016 #6 (13.5.16)

France

Equine Herpes Virus–4 (EHV-4) Respiratory Disease

On 13th May 2016, Réseau d’Epidémio-Surveillance en Pathologie Equine (RESPE) reported four cases of EHV-4 respiratory disease on premises in Manche, France. The affected animals are non-vaccinated two and three-year-old French trotters. The presenting clinical signs were coughing, nasal discharge and pyrexia with intial onset on 10th April 2016. Nasopharyngeal swabs were taken from all four animals, with positive diagnoses confirmed by PCR on three animals by LABEO-Frank Duncombe.

Italy

Equine Herpes Virus–1 (EHV-1) Respiratory Disease

On 11th May 2016, the National Reference Centre for Equine Diseases confirmed an outbreak of EHV-1 respiratory disease on premises in Rome. All 19 animals on the premises presented with pyrexia and mild rhinitis. The positive diagnoses were confirmed in five horses by PCR on nasopharyngeal swabs. Biosecurity measures, including isolation, have been implemented.

The Animal Health Trust is a veterinary charity, based in Suffolk, which offers clinical referral services and diagnostic testing for horses, dogs and cats in East Anglia, across the UK and internationally. Through its research programmes it develops new diagnostic tests, treatments and vaccines to help thousands of animals.